In Uncertain Times, Milton Votes For Change

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Last week's election produced a new mayor for the City of Milton. As reported in the Gazette, challenger Tom Chesmore ran on a platform of change. Understandably, he’ll take it slow at first as he said.....

JG Excerpt:
....he’d rely less on city staff………. and listen more to council members on issues such as agendas and committee placement…… he wants to get young people involved in government…………will be keeping the budget under control and addressing aging public facilities …..want to try to avoid getting into a pinch where all of a sudden one of our buildings, something happens where it’s not usable……don’t want to have any of our people operating out of a facility that’s not adequate.”

It’s no wonder why the Janesville Gazette seems miffed by Chesmore's election. How in the world could anyone with that platform beat stability and experience? Chesmore wouldn't have a chance in Janesville. How did he do it?

Just a couple days after that article, the Gazette ran a follow-up seeking to find some answers. But after reading the Gazette's findings, I couldn't help but sense the newspaper's condescending tone towards the new mayor. As if there were really no good reasons why he should have won.

But according to the Gazette's editorial on Wednesday (April 8), when the Janesville status quo (incumbents) won re-election, the paper explained that it must be because voters apparently know what they're doing - in uncertain times they want "stability and experience." Of course this was a direct slap to the challengers but apparently, Milton voters and Tom Chesmore weren't listening, reading or just didn't care about what others were saying. For whatever their reasons, they turned away from the incumbent - the status quo lost in a close race - so now it becomes nobody really knows why voters do what they do. It's just good to have a change.

Congratulations to the City of Milton and your new mayor, Tom Chesmore!

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Support Assembly Joint Resolution 2 (AJR 2)

On a related note, call your state legislator and let them know you support the Assembly Joint Resolution 2 (AJR 2). This constitutional amendment, proposed to the Wisconsin 2009 legislature, eliminates the spring election for nonpartisan offices so that all regularly scheduled elections will be held in November. AJR 2 could also save local jurisdictions money by no longer funding the spring election as a stand alone local expenditure and will allow candidates for local office a larger share of the voting audience, resulting in better local representation.